Crown-of-thorns

General poisoning notes:

Crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia
milii) is an indoor ornamental plant. The plant contains caustic and
irritant chemicals in the latex. This plant should not be ingested nor should
the juice be rubbed on the skin or in the eyes. Family pets should not be
allowed to ingest this plant.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Euphorbia milii Ch. des
Moulins

Vernacular
name(s): crown-of-thorns

Scientific family
name: Euphorbiaceae

Vernacular family
name: spurge

Geographic Information

Plant or plant
parts used in or around the home.

Toxic parts:

Latex

Notes on Toxic plant
chemicals:

Unknown ingenol
derivatives of toxic diterpenes are found in the latex of crown-of-thorns and
have irritant properties (Frohne and Pfander 1983).

Toxic plant chemicals:

5-deoxyingenol

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of
poisoning:

Abdominal
pains, blistering, mouth, irritation of

Notes on poisoning:

Crown-of-thorns
contains an irritant in the latex that causes skin irritation and problems on
mucous membranes and eye tissue. Ingestion can cause irritation of the mouth
and stomach, and abdominal pains (Fuller and McClintock 1986).